Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Mia
L aughter floats through the open windows as I settle on the plush couch in Isabella’s beautiful Bay Ridge living room.
Luca is on my lap, his tiny hands grasping for the toy dangling in front of him, while Liza is nestled in Isabella’s arms, already dozing off with her thumb in her mouth.
Her daughter, Irina, sits on a soft blanket nearby, cooing at Cory as he babbles on at her with a confidence that he surely gets from Cassandra.
“I can’t believe how big he is now, Cas,” I marvel as the two-year-old pushes himself onto his feet and putters over to his mother.
Cas scoops Cory up with a proud smile. “He moves around so much I can barely keep track of him. I dread to think what it’ll be like in your house when the twins reach this stage.”
Isabella scoffs, her blonde hair tied back in a loose braid, starkly contrasting her sleek designer outfit. “What are you talking about? I’m never putting this one down.”
She nuzzles into Liza’s chin, staking her claim as the favorite aunty.
I tilt my head at her fondly. “Do you think you’ll have another?”
Isabella laughs. “I think we have our hands full with these four, don’t you? Besides, I think this is the perfect opportunity for us to open a bottle of wine. Can’t do that if you’re pregnant.
I can practically feel myself salivating. “Dear God, I haven’t had a drink in almost a year. Please tell me you have tequila.”
“Mia!” Cas lets out an undignified squeak.
I stick my tongue out at her. “I worked in a bar, Cas. Come on.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Isabella winks at me as she places Liza gently on the floor by a cooing Irina.
I settle back into the couch as Cas shakes her head, though I can see a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
From the next room, the low murmur of voices carries to us. The men are discussing business despite Leon insisting he wasn’t going to talk shop tonight. But we all knew better.
“They’ll be fine, you know?” Cas says, catching the direction of my gaze. “Together, they can take down anything.”
I look at her and smile. “I know.”
For the first time in a long time, I truly believe it.
Isabella returns a moment later carrying—bless her soul—three shots of clear tequila with matching wine glasses on a tray. A bottle of red wine is tucked haphazardly under her arm.
“Tadaa!”
“Issy, you are a godsend,” I laugh as I take my shot when offered.
Cassandra leans over and taps her glass against mine.
“To survival,” she says with a grin.
“To family,” Isabella counters, lifting her glass.
“To the future,” I say softly, my gaze drifting to our children.
We down the shots, and I try not to grimace as the liquid burns down my throat. I could have sworn this tasted better a year ago.
“Ugh!” Cas moans. “Never again. Issy, please pour me a glass of wine so I can at least pretend to be civilized when I drink.”
I laugh as she continues to complain. The children around us are delighted by the warmth and love of our words, even if they don’t quite understand them.
After a while, the low murmur of voices from the next room stops, replaced by the creak of the door opening.
I glance up just as Leon strides into the room, followed closely by Teo and Rocco. Leon’s presence fills the space effortlessly, as it always does, his chocolate eyes scanning for me first.
When he finds me, his lips twitch in a small, reassuring smile, before he walks over to drop into the seat next to me. I curl into his warmth immediately, his arm stretching over my shoulder.
“Sorry for leaving,” he murmurs as he kisses his temple.
Teo clears his throat, his hands clasped behind his back. Despite his usual air of easy confidence, there’s a weight to his expression tonight.
“Ladies,” he begins, nodding at each of us, “I hope you’re enjoying yourselves. I hate to interrupt, but we have an announcement to make.”
Isabella raises a brow. “An announcement? Teo, why are you being so formal?”
On Teo’s other side, Rocco barely suppresses a grin. “Just one more point of business, if you don’t mind, Leon?”
Leon shrugs. “I think the ladies can handle it.”
I elbow him in the ribs.
Teo clears his throat again. “The war with the Cartel has taken its toll on all of us. On our families, our businesses, our alliances. It’s clear now that continuing as we always have isn’t going to work. We need unity—true unity—if we’re going to survive.”
I snort loudly at this, drawing everyone’s eyes. “I can’t marry Leon again if that’s what you’re talking about.”
“You could always divorce him,” Cas teases, already on my wavelength.
Rocco rolls his eyes before stepping up to aid his friend in getting through his explanation.
“The Guild has been through a lot these few years, and the war against the Cartel has left our factions splintered. If it weren’t for Leon’s support, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
A silence falls over the room, broken only by the soft murmurs of the babies.
“Leon’s leadership in this war has been unmatched,” Rocco continues. “His strategies, his determination, his sacrifices, they’ve kept us all afloat. Kept us alive.”
Teo nods along with this before taking his lead. “That’s why Rocco and I have agreed: Leon will take over as the don of both the Guild and the Prince’s Hand. Together, under one family.”
My breath catches, and at my side, Leon looks…stunned.
His lips part as if to argue, but Teo raises a hand to stop him.
“Don’t even start,” Teo says. “You’ve earned this, Leon. Hell, you’ve become this. There’s no one better suited to lead us through what’s to come.”
Rocco steps forward, his voice softer now. “You have my blessing, Leon. And my trust.”
Leon looks at the two men, his jaw tight as he absorbs their words. Then, his gaze finds mine, lingering as if seeking my reaction.
I can only nod, my throat too tight to speak. Pride swells in my chest, mixed with a flicker of fear. But I know they are right. Leon was made for this.
“If this is what it takes to end this war and protect the people I care about,” he says, his eyes still locked on mine, “then I’ll do it.”
Teo steps forward, clapping him on the back, his grin returning. “Good. Because we really weren’t giving you the choice.”
The room erupts in a mix of laughter and murmured congratulations, but my focus remains on Leon.
He truly glows under his new title of power. I can practically hear his mind running a thousand miles a second with the sheer number of possibilities it offers him. It’s so terrifying and yet so perfectly right. I can’t believe they never thought of it before.
“You sure okay with this?” he asks softly, his voice just for me.
And how can I deny this man a thing? “I’m sure. This is perfect.”
He leans in, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I couldn’t do it without you.”
I melt helplessly under his touch as the other men find their seats next to their respective wives.
“So, are you still going to call yourselves the Guild?” Cassandra says as she leans into her husband’s side.
I watch as Teo and Leon exchange a glance. An unspoken conversation seems to pass between them before Teo shrugs. “I guess it would be the Prince’s Guild now, wouldn’t it?”
Isabella’s eyes light up. “Oh, I love that!”
I laugh slightly at the insanity of it all. A year ago, these two factions were at each other’s throats, fighting for dominance.
Now…now they exist together peacefully. The sounds of our children’s laughter fill the air around us as news of the permanent union settles around the room.
For a long time after losing my father, I thought I was going to be alone.
But this, right here, is my family now.
“Hey,” Leon whispers softly in my ear. “Do you think this is what happiness feels like?”
I turn to kiss him firmly on the lips. All mine. My husband.
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
Loved this? Then read Teo and Isabella’s story next in Revenge & Ruin: An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance